Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-19
WASHINGTON FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Points from the Ancient Geography
Of the Federal City.

Of the Federal City.
EUPHoNIoUs NAMES roNCE APPLIED TO DIFFERENT
SECTIONS OF THE CITY-FR0Gr0wN, PIPETowN,
swAAPooDLE AND OTHER FAMOUS LOCALITIES
STREET BATTLES BETWEEN RIVAL BANDS OF HOOD
LUMs.
With the growth and Improvement Of
the city, the Names once popularity
given to different localities of the city,
have been In many cases forgotten A map
OF the city, as it appeared fifty years ago. with
the names applied then to different sections,
would hardly be recognized by the Washington
ians OF to-day. Not only the local names given to
different quarters of the city, but the boundaries
OF these sections have been obliterated In some
cases ames once applied to large areas have re-
NAMED, but are now applied to a comparatively
small area
The Old cOrpor alton had the boundary lines of
the wards clearly defined. but the boundaries OF
these popular divisions Of the city were often In
define it
THE FIRST WARD
west OF the White House had Its "Foggy Bottom, "
which included about all that portion OF the city
south OF street and east OF Rock creek, but more
strictly the Bottom" was the low ground south
OF street. That portion Of the city northeast OF
Sudlcary square from about street on the south
and 4tn street on the west was known as English
hill, and included Wechter's and Rodbrd's gardens
and what was afterwards known as ''Swam-
poWAc. AhCiC WAS lilly years dSO SCdTCtly u
pavement TO be found in this part OF the city, the
walks being of gravel and most Of the streets
grown up with weeds and grass. few springs
buted the local water works After the "English
Hill" settlement grew. up its borders were contrac-
and to streets. Wa swami ~d was term
originally applied to the settlement along street
near the T1ber (between North Capitol and LIST
street east. and finally it included Pearce's
meadow, great hunting ground, extending to the
boundary OF the city
LOVELY LANE"
was the name given the roadway from "SwampoO-
die" TO English Hill" III street from the Tiber to
LIST street west). This name was subsequently
dropped and 'Swampoodle'sr lines were supposed to
take In the "Lane," while on the northeast the
name of Pearce's Meadow gave way to that OF
lines OF the poOdle, have contracted till, of re-
cent years. its boundaries have been considered as
G, X, 4th east and LIST street west. Thus, the
whole OF the northeastern section was lett In
Guided in the name OF Kendall Green.
North OF English Hill was Birchs hill, New Jer-
sey avenue W., and street called after It's owner
was "Rodbirds hill" now known as "Red hill. The
first has been almost entirely covered with build
1ngS, and around ROdbird's hill Senator Malone,
Thomas Kirby and Others have been investing
with the view Of erecting some hundreds OF houses.
Grow Hill, In the olden time, took in about all
OF that part OF the city between 9TH and North
Capitol streets, Nj and X streets, but 40 years ago
there was scarcely dozen houses within this
area.
was then on street, between 9th and 7th streets.
Gradually ''CrOw Hill" has contracted till now an
area OF few squares about NV York avenue and
list street is regarded as the chill" That portion
OF the wide domain between North Capitol and
It'll street, beyond street, was formerly known
as germantown" while the corresponding tract
on the west OF 7th street to 10th had the name Of
Goose Level and still further westward that
portion extending to 14th street hourished under
the name OF "HelI'S Bottom" That these neigh
0orhoods have all greatly improved within the
quick resentment OF the president residents when
one OF the Old terms is applied to the locality.
GASsAwAYs HILL
was on street, between 9th and 10th streets
and Just north OF it was a backyard, and further
out on the square, where Hamline church is
located, was 'Turner's pasture" The intersection
OF Massachusetts, avenue and 18th street was
known as Night Hawk HILL from the fact that
such birds used to be shot there by the gunners.
This sport was kept up late thirty years ago.
murder Bay Is another locality which came into
existence during the war, located ON 14th street,
between street and Ohio avenue, but it has
largely given way to business places. The square
in which ST. Augustine and Union Bethel churches
are located, 18th, 10th, l. and NJ streets north
west. was formerly the center OF one OF the "Nig-
resented only by a single wagon tra OK, and the
branches were crossed on stepping stones. What
is now one OF the best built-up portions OF the
northwest. New Hampshire avenue Goth DIST M
and streets, was then Paddy Magee town. TAX
Ing Its name from the son OF the Emerald Isle,
WIZ NC q eosOiu Uu StlCCo, oUOSO S1SIs
THE "ROUND TOPS"
was Just west Of the Washington circle Pennsyl-
vania avenue and 24th street, and many OF the old
residents remember the difficulties which beset
those from other sections If they had occasion to
pass the "TOpsn after or 10 O'Clock at night. Be-
fore the Naval observatory was erected the site
was known as scamp hill from the fact that it was
here the American troops were encamped in the
war Of ISL and this was place OF resort fol-
many OF the young people. The names OF iOcali-
ties were sometimes duplicated in other sections
and in almost every direction was to be found q
"nigger hilF' or 'frog town."
PIPETowN.
East OF 10th and south OF streets southeast a
small settlement was known as "PiketOwn,
and afterwards called "Ppetown," and near
the end Of the burnt bridge there was q
ravine filled with blackberry bushes known rs
,'Seott's Hole" and this was locality most pOpu-
lar In the summer vacation for the gamsters. In
cuded in P1ketOwn was ''Poplar hill" popular re-
sort, especially on hot summer evenings. The
new bridge over the Eastern branch will be at the
eastern end of 'PiketOwn.' Then lust east OF the
navy yard wall was what was known as '.Goose
Level" West OF the navy yard basin, between the
Was known as "Rose hill" subsequently there was
large lake OF standing water in South Carolina
avenue east OF 9th street, known Shinars lake, -
and this for long time was regarded as disease
breeder. West OF the old canal, extending from X
street south TO "BuzZards Point east OF the marsh
along James creek, known as ''Fan DOranS marsh
was what was then known as Twenty Building
hlil Near the northern part OF this section there
Was formerly tannery, and for years it was
known as the .'Tannery" and subsequently as"Clay
hill" Within the bounds OF Twenty Building hill'
On u street west, near south, was
BARRYs CHAPEL,
Catholic church, which long since vanished In
decay. Not many years ago when some dirt was
being hauled from the site the corner stone of the
Old chapel was recognized in a cart and Rev.
Father Fortune, OF st. DOElinic's church obtained
and placed IL In ST. DOminic'S church. The marsh
ON the west side OF the canal fayorite gun
ming ground, and up to very few years ago birds
Were plentiful In season as high up as K street.
West OF the marsh, up TO near street, was
OF the Arsenal Enclosure were located English" and
WheatS rows" in the early part OF the Century q
fashionable locality, between AZ and 9th streets.
and Mrs "Wheats garden between Cd and 4
streets. That section between Virginia and North
Carolina avenues, New Jersey avenue and Sd
street east was known as "Ch1cken Cock hill, and
around the old Carroll Place there were frequent
stone battles between the rival youngsters forty
years ago. This place has lately been purchased
Dy james l. Barbour and others. who propose to
improve 1t this season.
FR0GTowN
was the classical name given to that portion of
the city bounded by the old canal, Maryland ave-
nue. and LIST street west. 'Mllers hay fieldsn were
between and and I'd and ~ streets southwest.
g streets southwest included a slave pen There
was also one on the square east OF 9TH street. The
south washington people often sat under the
trees there and called 1t 'LOcust Grove" although
~ Is said there were but few IL any, locust trees ia
that section Al that time the old canal ran alone
| street north, from 18th street to 3D. thence
Southeasteriy, crossing New jersey avenue str1k-
Ing ~ street east, between / and Streets and
thence to the Eastern branch, virtually making
south washington an island, connected with the